27 May Weight Loss and Sleep Apnea
Weight Loss and Sleep Apnea
Most common cause of obstructive Sleep Apnea in adult is being overweight or obese. It is a disorder in which the airways become blocked during sleep thus interrupting breathing. During sleep the throat and tongue muscles get more relaxed and block the airways. This interrupting breathing can happen many times during a single night and some people don’t even know that they have sleep apnea condition.
The three main warning signs of obstructive sleep apnea are:
- Loud, persistent snoring.
- Pauses in breathing, accompanied with gasping episodes when sleeping.
- Excessive sleepiness during waking hours.
If Left untreated, sleep apnea can have serious and life-shortening consequences like:
- high blood pressure
- heart disease
- stroke
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Depression
- automobile accidents caused by falling asleep at the wheel
- Other ailments
Multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) can also lead to sudden death from an irregular heartbeat
The importance of weight loss
The link between excess weight and sleep apnea is well established. People who are overweight are more likely to have extra tissue in the back of their throat, which can fall down over the airway and block the flow of air into the lungs while they sleep.
Experts continue to emphasize the importance of lifestyle modifications—especially weight loss—for treating obstructive sleep apnea.
Though losing weight is easier said than done, it can yield real results. If overweight and obese people lose weight, it would make both sleep apnea and other health problems [such as heart disease] go away. Losing just 10% of body weight can have a big effect on sleep apnea symptoms. In some cases, losing a significant amount of weight can even cure the condition.
CPAP and oral appliances work well, but they’re not cures for sleep apnea. The only sure way to rid yourself of the condition for good is to lose weight.
Many super obese people suffering from sleep apnea are now getting weight loss surgery done. Their sleep apnea not only get cured but overall health also improves. At CODSILS, we have successfully treated many patients struggling with sleep apnea and other associated health conditions.
For any queries, you can write to Dr Amit Garg ( Bariatric & Metabolic Surgeon, Chandigarh, India) at codsils.info@gmail.com or call us at +91 7986991767, +91 6283337650
